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Challenge Exams

Challenge Exams 


6155 Administrative Regulation 

Procedures 

Prior to the end of the current semester/school year, currently enrolled PAUSD 8th-11th grade students interested in challenging a course for the next year shall file a petition form with the high school principal or designee. New enrollees shall file a petition and take the examination within two weeks of the time of initial entry to high school classes. 

The request shall include but not be limited to the following: 

  1. Grades in courses of the subject area of the challenge. 
  2. Student's written rationale or reasons for wishing to challenge a specific course.
  3. Substitute courses to be taken by the student. 
Guidelines 

The challenge examination may be offered to requesting students when the course to be challenged is part of a sequence of courses normally taken in specific order, when the course to be challenged is normally required for entry into another course, or when a student’s previous/current experiences suggest appropriate mastery of course objectives. 

  1. During their enrollment in high school, students may challenge no more than two courses. While a successful challenge will exempt a student from those specific courses required for graduation, the student is still responsible for the total credits required for graduation. (BP 6146 - Courses of Study) (BP. 6146.1 - High School Graduation Requirements) 
  2. A student may challenge and attempt the competencies of a particular course only once. Failure to meet competency of a required course will result in a regular classroom enrollment. 
  3. A student may not challenge a course in which the student has previously received a failing grade, a course previously taken where credit was received, a course more elementary than a course in which credit has previously been earned, an Honors course, a course leading into an Advanced Placement class, an Advanced Placement course, living skills, or a physical education course. 
  4. A student may challenge only one course per semester. This may be a course in which the student is enrolled or any other approved course offering. A student may not attempt credit for a course below the student’s ability or grade placement. 
Test Content Administration 

Department Instructional Leads and administrators shall collaborate with teachers in the development of appropriate district-wide testing procedures and materials for the challenged course within each department. Departmentally-developed performance objectives shall determine the content and the type of evaluation to be used. The examination may be written, oral, by demonstration (including lab skills), or any combination thereof. 

The student must earn a B- or above to receive credit for challenging a course by examination. The transcript will reflect the grade, appropriate units, and that the grade was earned by challenge examination. This grade is final and will appear on the transcript. 

FAQs
  • How do I request a challenge?
    Have the parent/guardian or student complete the challenge exam form and sign the petition. The petition should be sent to gunnchallenge@pausd.org. 
  • How do I reach out regarding additional questions?
    Sending an email to gunnchallenge@pausd.org is the best way to get more information regarding challenges. 
  • When do students take the exam?
    TBD, typically students take the exam sometime in May. We will reach out via the contact information provided in the form to set up a testing time. 
  • When do students receive information about taking the exam?
    Mid April. We will reach out via the information provided in the challenge form to provide details about the exam time in May. 
  • Can a student receive information about what is on the exam or study material?
    No, when a student wants to challenge a course they are telling us that they have already gained proficiency in the course. 
  • Can a student cancel the challenge exam?
    Yes, if you completed the challenge form and would like to cancel, please send a message to gunnchallenge@pausd.org. 
  • If a student is a current 8th grader, where do they take the exam?
    Once you receive communication about the exam in April we will work with families to set up the exam at Gunn or at the present middle school. 
  • Where do Gunn students take the exam?
    Gunn students typically take challenge exams in our Testing Resource Center (TRC). 
  • When is the deadline to request a challenge?
    Students need to request prior to May 1st. The exam must be completed prior to the end of the school year 6/5/25. We do not allow exams to be taken during the summer.